Relive the memories: a look back at T-ara in 2014

As the new year begins, so does a new journey for T-ara! Before we embark into 2015, let’s take a look back at the many happenings and achievements that T-ara made in 2014!

The year started off with news of Boram being casted in the Oscar Wilde based musical, The Lost Garden, alongside g.o.d’s Kim Tae Woo. Boram would have her first show on the 26th of January and shortly before that, Eunjung and Hyomin made T-ara’s second appearance on KBS Immortal Song 2, following the very first right at the end of 2013.

T-ara then kept busy with a concert in Chengdu, China that followed suit of the Guangzhou concert last year that left many fans envious (again) of missing out on!

At the end of the month, Core Contents Media announced that T-ara would release their 9th Japanese single titled Lead The Way plus the B-side LA’BooN. Lead The Way took on a completely different music style than T-ara’s previous Japanese singles, which were either cute hook songs or remakes of T-ara’s hits, whereas LA’BooN stayed true to T-ara’s signature style.

Before that, T-ara spent their Valetines Day with fans in Cambodia for joint concert with SPEED!

T-ara’s Lead The Way PV dropped February 20th, a day before Soyeon, Hyomin, and Jiyeon’s collaboration with Cho Young Soo for a track on his All Star Album, First Love. A pop-dance song with influences from Latin music that showed off T-ara’s soothing vocals.

As March rolled in, T-ara released their 8 CD versions of Lead The Way but what followed was an exciting announcement that surprised all QUEEN’S: Jiyeon and Hyomin would be making solo debuts! Jiyeon would make her solo debut first in April while Hyomin’s would follow after that. In the meantime, some of the girls made numerous appearances in the first week of the bi-annual Seoul Fashion Week before heading over to Japan for a fan-meeting in Tokyo.

8ight Seconds Opening

Kiok Fashion Show

Jang Gwangho Fashion Show

During this month, Hyomin came out with a magazine spread that surprised (though pleasantly) every Queen’s! Hyomin graced the pages of Ceci with an underwear shoot, becoming the first T-ara member to reveal themselves in a bra.

Before the month would be over, T-ara announced their 3rd Japanese Album entitled Gossip Girls!

April was filled with endless teaser videos and BTS clips of Jiyeon’s upcoming debut! There were new picture and videos every few days and QUEEN’S were hinted at a whole new, sexy image from a now grown up Jiyeon, however, the debut that was slated for April 30th had to be delayed for a month due to the devastating Sewol Ferry tragedy.

Things became quiet in the Korean music industry for the time being but over in Japan, more details, including the famous composers T-ara would be working with, were revealed regarding the 3rd Japanese album, Gossip Girls, ahead of it’s impending release on May 14th.

Around this time T-ara also announced four separate fanmeets for Tokyo and Osaka to take place in July with the name of T-ara’s Summer School! Along with that announcement, the first song teaser for a Gossip Girls song named “Just Now” was released followed by another teaser the next day. QUEEN’S were hooked right away on the catchy tunes!

T-ara debuted at #1 on Shibuya Daily sales with Gossip Girls, which offered something new for the group. The album, released in the usual 3 editions – Sapphire, Pearl and Diamond, consisted of original Japanese songs that had sounds and melodies inspired by different regional areas and spanned across several different genres. The album included a brand new glamorous schoolgirl concept that was inspired by the American TV drama Gossip Girls, which Eunjung said she was the most excited for… despite all of them being past high-school age!

The Diamond edition of the album featured an hour long special video for fans where T-ara took a trip to Tokyo’s Leisureland and had a lot of fun and many hilarious moments.

All the while back in Korea, things began to pick up again as QUEEN’S were able to get excited for Jiyeon’s solo promotions once more with the release of the first official video teaser! Additionally, other celebrities such as Yoo Inna and Miss A’s Suzy sent their support her way.

On May 20th, Jiyeon finally released her debut solo album, Never Ever.

It included three songs – 1MIN1SEC, the title track, Yeouido Cherry Blossom and Marionette. The title track was an incredibly sexy and mature concept that we had never seen before from Jiyeon. The Double Sidekick-produced song had a sorrowful melody that Jiyeon’s husky voice fit perfect for, while her performances featured intense choreography that focused on a pelvis dance move that Jiyeon later had to change for being too sexy!

Towards the end of the month, Jiyeon’s promotions started to come to a gradual close but QUEEN’S weren’t allowed a break just yet! On May 29th Hyomin revealed her first teaser and shocked everyone with a whole new look! She cut off all her hair for a super short style and dyed it platinum blonde, while in another teaser she gained 200 pounds! Additionally, Jiyeon’s work wasn’t done as by the end of the month, she had been announced as the new MC for SBS MTV The Show alongside Girl’s Day’s Hyeri. The great news continued with another teaser photo for Hyomin’s solo debut better showcasing her new and short platinum blonde hair!

Staying busy meanwhile, Eunjung was set to appear on the R-rated talk show, jTBC’s Witch Hunt, a show not many female idols have guested on due to it’s mature nature.

As news on Hyomin’s solo debut, featuring rapper Loco, continued to churn out, Jiyeon held several fan sign events to close her solo promotions. She then surprised QUEEN’S and TV viewers alikes as she became a new guest character on the MBC drama Triangle! Following her appearance, Jiyeon brought the drama its highest ratings yet — her impact!

The remainder of the month was filled with enticing (and comical) new teaser photos and videos for Hyomin’s solo mini album Make Up which was released on June 30th with the title track Nice Body! Her debut mini consisted of two other new songs – Fake It and Overcome. Overcome was Hyomin’s first try at composing and writing a song in which she was assisted by Taewoon of SPEED.

Hyomin made her stage debut on July 3rd and initially was performing with Loco in the first week before SPEED member Sungmin took over for the remainder of the performances. As Hyomin carried on her promotions (during which also brought upon a mini Invincible Youth reunion), she as well made time for attending the T-ara’s Summer School fan meet in Tokyo on July 9th!

Unfortunately she wasn’t able to attend the remaining fanmeets due to her solo promotions but the rest of the girls were there for their Japanese QUEEN’S and provided them with unforgettable nights!

Towards the end of July, Jiyeon collaborated with Mighty Mouth’s Shorry and F-ve Dolls’ Seunghee for an OST for MBC’s Triangle, Kiss & Cry. The following day would be very special as it was T-ara’s 5th Anniversary! To commemorate the event, Diadem, along with T-aradotcom, T-ARA6JAPAN, T-ARACHINA, and T-ARAHK with the help of our amazing community prepared the very first T-ara Forest!

As August rolled around, along with the close of Hyomn’s solo promotions with several fan signs of her own, Eunjung’s parents opened up a new restaurant — a must for QUEEN’S to visit if ever in Korea! It wasn’t very long till the very first announcement of T-ara’s group comeback was made on August 6th following more details and the very first teaser photo for the EDM track, Sugar Free! During the midst of this news, Eunjung finally made her return to the silver screen with the SBS drama Endless Love!

Queen’s anxiously waited the long wait till September, before which a sudden mystery fell upon the fandom. Word began to spread of a new company by the name of MBK Entertainment to which CCM was associated to. Theories flew around if whether CCM was changing their name or merging with another company, specifically FNC Entertainment (their involvement was later on dispelled.) The mystery would be put on hold as come September 6th, MBC Music Core revealed a teaser for T-ara’s impending comeback that drove Queen’s wild! Queen’s were further teased with a Making Of video but as well thrown back into the mystery of MBK Entertainment after Qri changed her bio to include the name.

D-Day arrived on September 10th when Dispatch “leaked” the Sugar Free ahead of it’s release and the video spread like wildfire! Sugar Free proved to be a true and amazing EDM track, while still playing to T-ara’s fort of catchy music.

The following day, T-ara’s sixth mini album, AND&END, was released, featuring 7 great new tracks. The same day, T-ara had already begun promoting engergtic stages on music programs, but also delivering a much sweeter stage with B-side track, I Don’t Want You (interestingly, the first time T-ara performed a B-side that isn’t a ballad.)

During the promotions for Sugar Free, T-ara were finally award with the 2014 MWave K-Pop World Championship Queen’s had been tirelessly voting on during June and July, going up against the likes of Inspirits, Primadonas and others but still coming out victorious.

As if the comeback wasn’t exciting enough, the next day it was revealed T-ara would release 13 remixes of Sugar Free including respective English versions! The special EDM album would boast the names of famous DJs such as DJ Ferry, DJ Beatrappa, DJ Terra, DJ Big Bounce, DJ pHatsound, Monster Factory and DJ Jeffery Choi! Later on, another DJ was thrown into the mix, one who ranked in the top 30 most prominent DJs in the world, DJ Chuckie!

September 23rd, the music video for the lead remix track by DJ Ferry was revealed, showing off a whole new spin to Sugar Free and T-ara’s impressive deliverence in English!

The special EDM album dropped the next day on iTunes, featuring an incredible array of amazing remixes, each unique from the other. It was unclear if there would be a physical released but MBK (who affirmed themselves to be T-ara’s new agency) answered the call of fans and revealed the limited special to be set for a physical release on October 17th!

The release of Little Apple would unfortunately be delayed to the 24th but Queen’s were kept on their toes with numerous teaser and behind the scene photos, showing what would be a fun-filled music video, directed by Cho Soo Hyun of Psy’ Gangnam Style and T-ara N4’s Countryside Diary.

On November 24th, Little Apple was released on T-ara’s new official YouTube channel! Featuring The Chopstick Bros, Little Apple proved to be a fun tune matched with a comical music video. The 4 girls of T-ara would briefly promote the song on SBS The Show but made sure to deliver true enjoyment for their fans.

Ahead of Little Apple’s release, Eunjung headed to Brunei having been chosen as the ambassador for Korea-Brunei 500 billion won joint cosmetic project. She revealed how touched she was by the love the Brunei QUEEN’S showed for her!

Following that, T-ara revealed news for an upcoming concert in Shanghai, that would work the beginning of the 2015 China Tour. It didn’t end there, T-ara announced two Korean concerts, both to be held on Christmas! Before the big day, T-ara held a memorable and fun-packed Queen’s 2 Fan Meet, Present. A great event as if but only the prelude as the girls began to gear up for the long awaited domestic concert.

December 25th, the venue boasted with wreaths from fansites all over and eager Korean fans (international as well if you joined the live stream by us!) The day would prove to be an exciting and memorable event as the girls performed their hits tracks, including for the very first time the fan favorite, ORGR! The atmosphere was through the roof but that was just the first concert! As the second one rolled in, the energy was even higher but as were the emotions. The fans surprised T-ara with a touching message that brought the girls alike to tears. Since the unfortunate cancellation in 2012, T-ara’s first ever Korean concert was a night the girls and fans alike had awaited for for years, the wait was finally over as T-ara celebrated and cried with Queen’s.

The perfect end to an eventful year of new ventures, music and so much more, but T-ara’s new adventures in 2015 got a kick start with their Shanghai concert on the 27th (two days after their Korean, T-ara were keeping busy!) The concert was just as memorable and included a special solo stage by Hyomin as she got the chance to perform her original composition, Overcome, for the very first time. The successful event was attended by Wang Sicong, son of China’s wealthiest man! Already proving to turn heads wherever they go, T-ara was a name to spread far in 2015.

Thus brings a close to 2014. Tell us Queen’s, what were your favorite moments from 2014?

If you missed out on any of T-ara’s adventures in 2014, visit our Gallery for numerous photos ranging from Press, Airport, Magazines, etc. Check out the Videos section for all English subbed TV appearance and more!

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12 Comments

Komakat

February 2, 2015 - 4:39 am

That was an excellent article, a lot of nice memories. Let’s hope 2015 is even more successful for T-ARA.

ohagi

용기123

February 2, 2015 - 6:49 am

so happy for them and I’m glad that I participated in almost every voting poll and keep in touch with T-ara’s development throughout the year. And also my goal for last year as a T-ara fan is completed…which is buying their album. Surely its at least a fan should do to support their favorite artist and of course there’s plenty other ways to do it. And that Mwave trophy,I’m really satisfied after seeing the smile on their faces after receiving it. AWWWWWWW~~~~

Melons

February 2, 2015 - 10:41 pm

If you look back at 2014, seems like really nothing happen or should i say not much of an activity. but reading this article makes me say “‘WOW’ T-ara were indeed busy last year.” i hope on the next year article we can read longer than this because of so much activity will happen! hehe.

cyberjung

JetMagicHam

February 3, 2015 - 7:10 am

Thanks for the great article, T-ara had a great year! I am excited for all T-ara activities. I discovered a few activities from this article.

Check out their great song Just Now from their Gossip Girls album. I’m happy that they released a Japanese remix of T.T.L for their Gossip Girls album. They should release a Japanese remix of T.T.L Listen 2 in 2015 as well. Jiyeon’s mini-album included three instrumentals but unfortunately Hyomin’s only included two instrumentals. Too bad there was no instrumental for her song Overcome.

If you haven’t seen it yet, I recommend watching their great performance of a Sugar Free remix on the December 21st 2014 SBS Gayo Daejun:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GovV1tulRh8&hd=1
It sounds like a shortened/edited version of the DJ Chuckie remix.

What was T-ara’s best song in 2014 (which remix specifically)?

Good luck to T-ara, their label mates, their record labels and companies and staff, to me, to you, and all their fans! 🙂